Ophthalmic mounting hinge



Dec. 18, 1956 A. J. TIER] 2,774,098

OPHTHALMIC MOUNTING HINGE Filed Aug. 19, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG. 3 F1630 v I l/VVEA/TOR l6 ARTHUR J. TIERI FIG. 4a; 3 4% Dec. 18, 1956 A. J. TIER! 2,774,098

OPHTHALMIC MOUNTING HINGE Filed Aug. 19, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 FIG. 6' 3% 3 FIG. 7 FIG. 8

lNVE/V TOR ARTH-UR J. TIER! ATTORNEY Unitedstates Patent O OPHTHALMIC MOUNTING HINGE Arthur J. Tier-i, Worcester, Mass.

Application August 19, 1952, Serial No. 305,107

4 Claims. (01. 16128) In the optical art, and particularly 'in the manufacture of eyeglass and spectacle connections and in templeconnections therefor, there has been difficulty in providing suitable hinge means capable of being positively secured in position without misalignment of associated parts and which when the parts are assembled will not permit the hinged parts to become loose or separated or distorted from their proper hinge axis. 7

his the object of this invention to provide a hinge structure in which the hinge is so constructed and arranged that the parts being hingedly associated are properly and permanently aligned during positioning of an expandable hinge sleeve on its axial core or pin and when thus assembled permanent association of all parts 18 provided and loosening or separation of the hinge joint prevented.

Another object is to provide a simple means of preventing the spreading apart of the ears of a hinge thereby allowing the hinge to function properly for a greater period of time than is now possible.

Another object is the use of a locking pin or core for the expansible sleeve which after functioning to expand the sleeve and align and assemble the hinged parts may, if desired, be removed without affecting the hinge itself.

Another object of this invention is to provide an inconspicuous or concealed method of securing members of a hinge to each other in a substantially permanent fashion.

Other objects and features of the invention will more clearly hereinafter appear by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the instant application wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which? Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective of an ophthalmic mounting embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section on line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through one form of hinge tube before assembly; I 7 i Fig. 3 is a vertical section of another form of hinge tube;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of one form of pin or core member;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a modified form of pin;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through a modified hinge joint showing a threaded pin or core; I

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing a further modified assembly;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view through a hinge sleeve scribed primarily as an ophthalmic mounting, it is 'adaptable for use in many arts and quite capable of hinging either metal or plastic parts regardless of their size.

It will be obvious to one skilled in the art that in ophthalmic mountings it is customary to have the end of a temple member, such as indicated by reference character 1, bifurcated at its hinged extremity to provide upper and lower legs 2 and 3 formed with vertical aligned openings 4 and 5, these openings converging inwardly uniformly to provide conical surfaces as shown. The angle of the taper of the conical faces may vary according to the nature of the work and particularly as required by the material from which the expandable hinge sleeve is formed, it being desirable that axial-flow of the material of the sleeve be prevented. In the primary development it is intended that the assembly include a cylindrical surface intermediate the conical surfaces, and this is accomplished byhaving the hinge lug 6 projecting from the eyeglass frame 7 formed with the vertical annular opening 8 to associate with a similarly formed portion of the' hinge sleeve. A reversal of parts heretofore mentioned will be obvious. The thickness of the bifurcated parts 2 and 3 and the part 6 is substantially identical as illustrated.

For hinging the temple and frame parts described, the openings'4, 5 and 8 are arranged in alignment for receiving an expansible sleeve, the sleeve being capable of modification as hereinafter described and subject naturally to modified pin structure to provide for proper operation and use. In that form of the expansible hinge sleeve shown in Fig. 3, the sleeve is shown of cylindrical tubular form with its outside diameter uniform throughout its length and substantially the diameter of the cylindrical opening 8 in the frame extension 6. The inside surface of the expansible cylindrical tubular sleeve of Fig. 3 has a down wardly converging lower end portion 9, with its inner wall taper corresponding to the taper of conical wall opening 5 of lower leg 2. The balance of the sleeve structure has a uniform diameter and is for concentric arrangement in the openings in parts 2 and 6. The wall thickness of each hinge sleeve corresponds throughout its length to the area between the expanding pin used in the assembly and thewalls of the aligned openings in'the parts being hingedly associated. Thus with the sleeve ofFig. 3 in position in the aligned openings, the core or pm of Fig. 4 is inserted longitudinally therein. This pin has a tapered head 11 and the balance of its body 12 is of a uniform diameter. Inasmuch as the material of the sleeve'and pin comprehend the entire area within the aligned openings 4, Sand 8, the seating of the pin will expand thethick: ened tapered lower end 9 of the sleeve outward against the tapered wall 5 and simultaneously'force the upper end portion of the sleeve laterally against the; tapered face 4 of upper leg-2 and into downwardly converging tapered form. This is brought about by the lower end of portion 12 of the pin acting against the lower converging wall 9 of the-sleeve and the outwardly tapering upper end 11 of the pin engaging and expanding the uppercylinder portion of the sleeve portion 10 against the wall of legv2. It is to be understood that the diameters of the respective parts must be so determined as to provide" a snug hinge fit and must not produce a too close face engagement between the parts, unless .of course, in instances where the work anding suitable hinge action without permitting misalignmentof parts.

In Fig.3? the hinge tube, which is generally of the illustrated inFig. 3, has its upper end portion" :14 pre formed with 21 flare, this type of hingetube' being par-x ticularly adaptable for use in assembling partswhere' t ere, is a possibility that the tube when beingv inserted may fall 7 V tappingoperatioiiis not-present' r assemblyoftheparts. The use 'ofeith'er of the structures" through 'thealigned openings and thus interfere with the nylon or other suitable plastic and the use of this material assembly operation. The flare 14 obviously corresponds is quite desirable inasmuch as'it has the inherent characto the taper of the head 11 ofthe pin shown in Fig. 4, i teristics of a lubricant thereby providing against corrosion 1-- or in Fig. 4 both pins being suitable for use in the assem- 1which would prevent a smooth movement of the hinge. bly of Fig; 2. Likewise, both of the hinge tubes shown in 5 membe'r. Whether the material of the deformable tube Figs. 3 and 3 may be used in this same assembly and will is a plastic or a soft metal it will tend to flow in the function properly. grooves 24 formed in the-pin and prevent axial movement Referring again to Fig. 4 it will beseenthat in this of the pin and its displacement from the joint. The matefigure, the bottom end of the pin is recessed as'at 1510 rial of the deformable tube, having pressure applied thereprovide relatively thin lower end 'wall portions v hich can to asa result of forming the joint, sets up stresses in the be flared out throughout their periphery by any. suitable assembly resulting in the movement of the metal or plastic tool or portions of which can be ruptured from the thin of the tube into the grooves 24. In all of the various dewalls'and deflected as'shown at '16; The use of the flared veloprnen-ts the fastening unit is'contained Within the con end or end portions of the structure of 4* will o'bviousfines of the outer walls of the unit thus providing a smooth 1 71y function to prevent displacement of the pin from the 35 outer surface. 'In Fig. 6 there'is a modification of this.- joint, afiter completion'of the joint, and in the event it is concept in that the screwhe'ad 3.1 is shown at the outer. desired to remove the pm of Fig. 4 the flared end portions I side of the wall of the structure. However, in thisinstance "at 16 can be, removed by filingor otherwise. his in the structurecould be'recesse'd for receiving the screw a tended that the length 'of the pin will-be such that when head 31 so that the hinge assembly will 'be entirely con- V the end portion 16is ruptured or flared laterally to secure rained. Y

' the parts together, such flared portions will be contained Whatl claimis'zr; V I i i within the shell body and not project beyond the same. 1. In 3a hinge assembly, ajpair 0f sp-acedfpa-rts formed] 7 ",Normally the structure of Fig; 2 will suffice in'thatfricwith aligned openings thewalls' forming said openings:

tional engagement betwe'enthe pin and the hinge a e each flaring outwardly throughout its length to formin- V will be ample to hold the partstogether. wardly"tapered conical vseats, an intermediate body me m- In 5 there is shownasleeveof the general type of 1 br;f0r-med"With a cylindrical opening axiallyaligned-with Figs.' 3 and 3 in which the material from which the sleeve J the o ening in a pe d P i116 p n g n 'Sdid i is made is of a relatively soft material, such as a softmetal V n mediate body memb h g 51 1 iam 'et hroug or plastic; In thisa-ssembly of Fig. 5; aself-tapping'screw out its length h diameter O ai fl re isused lieu of the pin of Fig. -4, thi rew how at 17 7 0 openings; a deformable tubular hinge member arranged in being provided with a transverse recess 1 8'at its enlarged Said aligned openings, said hinge member having a uniupper end for the reception of a screwdriver to force the fo m ut r diameter'throughout its length and having on same into threaded engagement with the soft sleeve 19,;to rendpolfim With its inner wall Surface m v g t P- tap itself through the straight shank of the sleeve. The proximately the angle of one of said co'nicalseats, and a .screwwill function in the same manner as the pin or core 35 Core member for. aX QY ment into said tubular hinge of Fig; 4 orFig. '4 in that the lower end portion will member, said core member having an outwardly flare d engage and expand the converging lower and fthl conical end of such dimension as to expand one end of the 7 shown ih dotted lines at 2-1 into fullline position for snugly deformable h g member u y' n its c l ati seating against the tapered wall 22 of the lower frame other end o a o e memberhaving Such adiameter as member 23. Obviously with this arrangementthe screw 4Q to g the C v rging inner wall'ofthe hinge member will lock itself into the tube by virtue ofthe self-tapping snuglyinto' its ,conicalseat j l ,7 t l .vaictionrand maybe m drb eveiging fhe diregtion.o 2. The structure of laini l characteriz ed inrthat the movement of thescrew in the usualmanner. r O E member s f rme Wi h an axialrecess at on f n fl *lnfig fi the assembly provides a threaded screw a d and a portion of the Wall ;definingIthefrecess-. is flared f a a a threaded' 'deforma'ble hinge sleeve. ,In this figure a 45. p l y i PI Vid QJ Q m a g n t ax a mo threaded screw is illustrated having the"en1a1j-gedhead' jment of the q a a t a .7 t 1 V 31 notched'a-t 32 toreceive-a screwdriver orother operat- A. 3- h strllcillre of claim. characterizedrin .tha fl s .ing meanss' This s crew 30,-threadedlyengages-the'threads g 91 e bfl s otm iw thmsd ell i s a of tubular body 33 preformed tqprq id h outwardly. 1 groovesfior perrnittingrreceptionj of adja cent. portions U gfl-aredronical iace34 for seating inithe conical recess I'm .9 th il m. b r ,5: thwart 5 'E 5 f ig $readilyZassembled.' 1 aahmge bl zcsn a a t r 1.116 be i. j "by threading the sorewfifi into the s lee vei 33, the: sleeve Q- i i 1 .Q aa;: Ph 3' fram m m e :Whfilfii I acting as a nut forthe screw soithatwith thepa-rtstproperly l 94 of a di i' -ir $R 1 wassembledra complete joint 'of the generaljtyp'e'lisproi ndgl hinge Pa t w hi h t fi t j a yi'de'd in which separation of the parts is preverited by the madam 6161mm: w -h p m Wit a V I 1 thread 'eng'agenrent. "Ihe 'sleeve33 shown in' F-ig. -6 -is yeach of 5 i Q Z Parts 5 3 f ll V illustrated in vertical section in fig; 7, it being seen from th erelfhmugh f l' in a l f f g fi l i thisdi-gure that the sleeve-is provided with ipreforrned"- 531d lmemqedlate l j l r 3 15 threads 3 forr-associatio'n withthe threads on the screw" 1- Ihcmthmugh it lt h 5 conical ii, Thestructure of'Fig. 6 Fig.5! may beeithermetali 60 h 'mmbinafion With'lsaid? Spaced 'hin'gFyparts wi orplastic inasmuchfas the threads are preformed andselflug filament of"?! deformablqmbular hinge member v V Y J tending through both of gsaid' spaced hinge parts and i In Fig. *8 the present-invention is illustrated gin 'thefjm a f ;m n 39 being. naturjelof la riv'etflbi which the'pafis 3.7 ands?) are superl d at P gqmcafllly -i p d a f di wi jii hfim l P nga a fireman s39. es'fP -i f i of Whi 9 e a his rmj f rivet fasteningi thei slt'zeverrrembencould in msnilg e a n e n a m na es? he have 'either end preformed into conical shape ftojhe'ireh 5}? s i rlcalJe s l t a gr s fi a a 1 ficeiv'edin-the conical recesses, itfbein'g suficientfthat the 11 9 9 93 lj e t t t fi n a -l connecting core or pin 40 laterally distorts either oneend pom m b a i i a 1m f wi f' Z: I

' or" the other-of the sleeve af er relative alignment 7 0 andsbeling axially'msqtqdithgrem lssal-icorememb'rlbeing Vi entirelygaccommodated ithin' the tuhular'hinge mem- 1 iber and havin'g' anl o jardly flared conical nd of. sushi r d ens s j at l rxr nd t s t md n ari t'lhe' deform able tubejvhichfonris' an essentiahp of ofrthe deformabletubular-"hinge member snuglyiagainstf -thepresentinvention mayf'inf'm-anyinst' cesbeformed or its respective conical seat whilefthe' othe'r en'd of sat-d1 if closures ofth eother'modifications; 1 f

will be, similar and; .the joint will approlgirnate the dis 6 core member is adapted to laterally urge the surrounding 1,978,935 Douglas Oct. 30, 1934 wall of said tubular hinge member into snug engagement 2,03 6,551 Stevens Apr. 7, 1936 with its respective conical seat upon axial movement of 2,088,955 Hamill Aug. 3, 1937 the core member into its final assembled position Within 2,191,632 Smith Feb. 27, 1940 the tubular hinge member. 5 2,264,747 Fether Dec. 2, 1941 2,296,470 Keehn Sept. 22, 1942 References Cited in the file of this patent 2,348,589 Auten May 9, 1944 UNITED STATES A S 2,366,965 Johnson Jan. 9, 1945 1,616,965 Fielding Feb. 8, 1927 2384321 Lees Sept 1945 1,955,230 Gasstrom July 3, 1934 10 2592330 Erb Apr? 1952 

